The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-31
PRIMING HIS GUNS.

| Senator Cockerell Taking the Initial Steps
| Preparatory to Setting His Committee
| to Work Investigating the Govern
| mental observation-disclosures Work
| Anticipated.
| WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Cock
rell, chairman of the Senate select com
mittee to inquire into and examine the
methods of business and work IN the
Executive departments OF the Govern
ment, has taken the initial steps toward
carrying out the inquiry during the past
| week by addressing several letters to the
heads of each department, telling them
| just what information is desired By the
| committee. In letter the Senator asks
| for a detailed statement showing the
/ amount and character OF business pending
in each division and in each division of
each bureau on the first day of January,
! 1884, 81, 'S6 and 81, and the amount Of
business transacted and disposed of in
each division, during those three years,
| and on hand and unsettled at the end of
each, and also the business transacted in
January and February, 1857, in each di-
vision, and on hand and unsettled in eac'
division on March l, 1857; also detailed
statement showing the average amount
and character of business performed,
transacted and disposed CT by the en-
ployes in each division aud the
average number OF employees in each of
such divisions, during each month in 1884,
'S5, 'S6 and 'S7, up to March l, 1887; and
| also the maximum ana minimum amount
| of business transacted and disposed of by
| the emp oycS doing the most and en-
| ployes doing the least in each of such
divis ions during each of the months of
| these years, and if no account has been
| kept of the business performed aud dis
posed of by each employe during these
years, the reasons why such account has
not been kept; and also statement
showing the average number of
days and The time and attention
devoted to the cons .deratiOn and trans
action Of business by the employees in the
| divisions, and whether in person or by
| proxy, during each of these years, up to
March 9, 1887, such employees or any of
! them may have been receiving pay from
the United States, and also the maximum
and minimum number Of days during each
] of the years 50 devoted to business by the
employc in each of the divisions, present
for the greatest number of days, and also
for the least number Of days.
In another letter sent to the depart
ments yesterday the Senator requests a
| statement of the number of employees in
each department on March l, 1887. These
| letters show that Senator Cocxrell intends
the investigation to BE- thorough and
searching.
For the last ten or twelve years, he
says, the heads of departments or bureaus
have been clamoring for more help.
Some of the bureaus probably need larger
force; others, perhaps, do not need the
force they have all along been
provided with, and the investigation,
the Senator thinks, will at least show
whether Congress has not been reniss in
not providing additional force, or the ad-
ministration Of the department faulty by
not utilizing and arrang ging their en-
rloyes 50 as to keep all busy, and at the
same time keep the work everywhere
we'll attended to.
Acting Secretary Muldrow. Of the
Interior Department, has already taken
steps to comply with Senator COckrelps
requests, and has directed the heads of
bureaus and divisions in that department
to preprre the desired data fer the COM
mittee.